CHAP. XII.

VIRTUES OF WOMEN.

IF the women esteemed themselves according to their merit, they would not shut themselves up in a small circle of amusements which keeps them always in childhood. When they adopt, of themselves, such little ideas, they can never after rise above the rank in which they have placed themselves. To produce generous acts, it is necessary to think of one's self more nobly, and labour rather to extend the sphere of one's thoughts than to narrow it.

As soon as a woman wishes to raise herself above all the trifling objects which debase her, her mind will find itself capable of the same strength as that of men.

Mind has no sex; and women cannot be made too frequently to recollect this truth, to preserve them from all those frivolities in which they appear to have placed their whole happiness.

Oh! that women, then, would but know their rights, and improve them to their advantage and ours!

They have given us examples of the most exalted virtues; very powerful examples to us, which a tender inclination for them induces us to follow. We shall always be what the women would have us: it is in their power to change to good or ill the face of society, and to give to men the form they would have them take.

The most indispensable of their virtues, and that which gives them most credit among us, is modesty. This amiable virtue has such an influence upon the features, air, mind, and character, that every thing is disgusting to us where it is wanting. It is in that the point of honour in women consists,

P

as ours does in strength of mind and cou

rage.

Persons without sense or feeling hearts may possibly reject both points of honour as prejudices of education. Those who judge more justly, respect them not as indifferent establishments, but as rules founded upon Nature, and even the constitution of humanity. As it is essential to the good of society that men should be endued with a proper courage for external defence, it is also necessary that women should have, on their part, a discretion and a modesty alone capable of rendering their society peaceable and interesting at home.

All

Our ancestors, persons of as good understandings as ourselves, concentrated all the virtues in these two principal ones-courage in men, and chastity in women. the ancients revolve upon these two points: knights overthrew dreadful giants, whilst their beauties resisted the severest trials. If writings are the mirrors of the manners, the romances of the present day will as

suredly not attest the purity of ours to future generations.

It is deviating from my subject to speak of the point of honour in men; but for that of women, experience has justified it, that it is very justly placed in modesty. The want of this virtue makes all the others which are its inseparable companions disappear; and it is relatively to it that we may say women are either better or worse than men. When once they have renounced this decency, which is the greatest merit of their sex, there is no excess of which they are not capable. A woman without modesty will disturb a kingdom as well as a private family. It was women of this character who stirred up the flames of La Fronde; and France remembers yet, with grief, the shameful intrigues and crimes of an Isabella of Bavaria.

Happily we see but a very small number of women so void of a modesty that appears born with them: it is only by repeated underminings that some succeed

in destroying in them this precious instinct. Those deserve no longer to be reckoned among the sex, who have abjured all the virtues, and dispute the palm of impudence with the most brazen-faced of ours.

In suppressing this vicious part of the society, more deserving of our disdain than our attentions, it is certain, and we can say it without flattering the women too much, that they have better hearts than men; are tenderer and more compassionate.

I appeal to sick husbands, who have been whole years objects of the attentions of amiable wives, who have almost buried themselves with them. Nothing is more common than to see women watch and assiduously take care of their relations or friends, whilst men confine their cares to advice, and some short visits.

We naturally have in our heads so many things that are distinct from it, that we are hardly ever guided by it. Women, on the contrary, solely attentive to its voice, scarcely ever wander from the soft laws